There is something I must admit that I am quite ashamed about. I have become obsessed with the daily life of the terminally ill reality TV star, Jade Goody
If I see a new story about Goody, 27, I read it straight away. It is like some form of addiction. I chose to read a report about someone standing over Goody’s bed with a hammer over the murders in Northern Ireland last week. I know I’m not the only one with this problem as stories about the former Big Brother contestant are regularly the most read reports on news sites such as BBC News.
Jade Goody becoming famous on Big Brother 2002
I am not a fan of Jade Goody and never have been. This time last year if someone had asked me to join a Facebook group with a title such as, ‘Jade Goody needs to be painfully removed from the face of the Earth’ I probably would have joined it. She is part of that annoying group of talentless individuals that are continually growing in numbers and will do anything to be famous.
But now I have become fascinated with her story in some almost twisted way. The British public have followed her through the ups and downs of her controversial adult life. We have seen her depicted as a stupid moron, a business woman, a mother, a racist thug and now a brave cancer sufferer. That is a lot of roles to play during seven years in the harsh media spotlight and that glare will stay with her until the very end of her short life.
However, when the country is in such a crisis is it right for the Prime Minister Gordon Brown to regularly comment on woman, who is only famous for being a mouthy idiot, just because she is dying?
Is it also right for the government to relax the probation conditions of her husband, Jack Tweed, 21, despite the fact he was again found guilty of assault just two weeks ago. What must his victims think of Britain’s justice system?
There are thousands of women in the country who are suffering from cancer, but don’t get preferential treatment. So why should Jade Goody when she is famous for basically being famous?
Is Jack Tweed nothing more than a thug with a famous, sick wife?
But how can I complain about this when it is my fault. If people like me didn’t read the stories about Goody or express an interest in her life the government wouldn’t feel pressure to comment on her situation or give special privileges encase of the a public backlash.
The only good thing that has from the exposure of her life is what the press and some medical professionals are describing as the ‘Goody effect’. The publicity around her battle with cancer has led to thousands of women to getting checked for cervical cancer, which could ultimately save a lot of lives. Perhaps Jade Goody will end her controversial life being a role model to thousands of British women and someone her two children can be proud of.
Helen's Blog 